The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed domestic airlines to blacklist unruly passengers in a bid to curb rising cases of disruptive behavior onboard flights.
At a recent meeting with airline operators in Abuja, the NCAA warned that pilots must not take off if any unruly passenger remains on board. Security agencies are to remove such individuals immediately, or flights will be delayed until the situation is resolved.
The regulator stressed that cabin crew and airline staff must be treated with respect, adding that paying for a ticket does not give passengers the right to insult, harass, or assault airline personnel.
Beyond discipline and passenger conduct, the NCAA also raised concerns about unresolved refunds and compensation claims linked to flight disruptions and cancellations. Airlines were urged to improve their passenger handling procedures and ensure full compliance with consumer protection rules.
Other issues discussed included the planned rollout of RFID baggage tags, stricter enforcement of the rule requiring passengers to switch off phones during flights, and enhanced flight monitoring systems.
The meeting was attended by major domestic carriers including Arik Air, Ibom Air, Aero Contractors, United Nigeria Airlines, Green Africa Airways, Max Air, Rano Air, ValueJet, Air Peace, and Overland Airways.
The NCAA noted that stricter enforcement will not only improve passenger safety and crew welfare but also strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.